Effect of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes on MUC5AC and MUC5B Expression in Airway Epithelial Cells

Abstract

Received March 25, 2015 Revised May 8, 2015 Accepted May 17, 2015 Address for correspondence Yong-Dae Kim, MD, PhD Department of OtorhinolaryngologyHead and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, 170 Hyeonchung-ro, Nam-gu, Daegu 705-703, Korea Tel +82-53-620-3781 Fax +82-53-628-7884 E-mail ydkim@med.yu.ac.kr Background and ObjectivesZZMulti-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) are one of the most commonly used nanomaterials to date. Recent studies have demonstrated that MWCNT increase immune response and allergic inflammation in airway epithelial cells. However, the effects of MWCNT on mucin in human airway epithelial cells have not been reported. Therefore, in the present study, the effect of MWCNT on MUC16, MUC5AC, and MUC5B expressions were investigated in human airway epithelial cells. Subjects and MethodZZIn mucin-producing human NCI-H292 airway epithelial cells and primary cultures of normal nasal epithelial cells, the effects of MWCNT on MUC16, MUC5AC, and MUC5B expression were analyzed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, real-time polymerase chain reaction, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. ResultsZZIn human NCI-H292 airway epithelial cells, MWCNT significantly induced the expression MUC5AC and MUC5B mRNA and the production of MUC5AC and MUC5B protein. However, MWCNT did not induce the expression of MUC16 mRNA. In the primary cultures of normal nasal epithelial cells, MWCNT also induced the expression of MUC5AC and MUC5B mRNA and the production of MUC5AC and MUC5B proteins. ConclusionZZThe results of this study demonstrate that MWCNT induces MUC5AC and MUC5B expression in human airway epithelial cells. These findings provide important information about the biological role of MWCNT on mucus-secretion in human airway epithelial cells. Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg 2015;58(8):552-7